Supreme Court rejects appeal of former Martinelli minister

The Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice ratified its decision not to admit an appeal filed by the former Minister of Social Development (Mides),  during the Martinelli administration, Guillermo Ferrufino, and upheld the sentence of 48 months in prison for corruption.

Under the presentation of magistrate Ariadne Maribel García and the endorsement of her colleagues Juan Francisco Castillo and Maribel Cornejo, the Criminal Chamber rejected an appeal for clarification of the sentence presented by Franklin Amaya, Ferrufino’s lawyer.

Amaya had asked the Criminal Chamber to clarify the sentence issued against Ferrufino on April 25, but the request was not answered.

On July 29, 2022, the Superior Liquidation Court confirmed a 48-month prison sentence for Ferrufino for having received a Toyota truck, for his personal use, acquired thanks to the fact that two companies transferred $110,000 through a third person. The money was delivered as a “donation” in exchange for contracts with the State.

The verdict also affects Ángel Brennan and Tomás Rugliancich, who were each sentenced to 36 months in prison.

Ferrufino faces another sentence of six years in prison for unjustified enrichment. This sentence was handed down in February 2022, but it is not final, since the former minister’s defense filed an appeal before the Criminal Chamber of the Court.